12/05/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/5/2006 • Mr. Gareau, sponsor of Ordinance 2006-179 asked that the legislation be held in committee to give him an opportunity to determine new information that he may have affecting the ordinance and possible amendments that he may either wish to make or a possible redraft. The committee agreed. • Resolution 2006-190, a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Service to advertise for bids for the purchase of a minimum of 70,000 gallons of sodium aluminate fora 24-month period for use by the WWTP for phosphate removal and authorizing the Mayor to contract for same. Service Director Limpert had previously been asked if there was an opportunity to buy this in bulk form or with cooperation of other cities who may use chemical. The committee was advised that it is a sizeable amount being purchased and there are fewer and fewer treatment plants in this area are using this type of chemical and/or this type of treatment. The ordinance is a two-year agreement for 2007 and 2008. The committee recommended passage under suspension of the rule. Mayor O'Grady offered a friendly amendment that the resolution called for a maximum of 70,000 gallons, and Councilman Miller agreed that was correct. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, spoke about his concerns with the Central Dispatch Center. Regarding the Mayor's comments about the two dispatchers and the cost being cheaper because it will be spread out, those two dispatchers are going to be serving approximately 45 square miles of cities. Three of those cities are less than half the size of this city, but we all have a 20% vote in what goes on with the Central Dispatch Center. Counter to the Mayor's argument that's a good deal is his own statement that there are four to five other additional cities that want to join this dispatch center. Since we only have a 20% vote, if other cities join, will North Olmsted end up with a 3% or 5% vote? The dispatch center serves several major shopping areas, NASA and the Riveredge area. Our resources could be going off across the bridge to Fairview Park when we need them here. He does not believe the cost will remain at $200,000. The Mayor stated we are not going to be losing anything, but he believes we are going to be losing the control of our own resources. He doesn't know the cost of dispatchers in this community, but knows we're into the millions for the cost of fire fighters and EMS workers and he would like to have control over them. He would like to know where they're going, how they're getting there, and to be able to tell them a better way if there is a better way to do the jab. He thinks, if Council looks at the facts and figures, they are going to realize this is a bad deal. The concept of backing out is next to impossible, and he believes the contract will probably not allow it. The welfare of the citizens is on the line-they deserve good services. We have good services. "If it ain't broke, let's not fix it." Mayor O'Grady answered that Mr. Lambert's comments were based on hearsay and speculation. It is ridiculous to say that in our contract somehow is written a fact that we can't leave after a year. The contract doesn't exist, and the guarantee from the other mayors is contrary to that. Regarding our resources going to other communities, we could be doing that right now because we have mutual aid agreements. We don't lose 8 .:~~~